Nico Rosberg was last night warned by Mercedes that any future indiscretions “will not be tolerated” after the German was punished and forced to apologise for his collision with team-mate Lewis Hamilton in the Belgian Grand Prix. He is understood to have been fined by the team

Following a meeting with the two drivers and Mercedes executives at their Brackley base on Friday morning, the team made an orchestrated attempt to draw a line under the saga which is threatening their stranglehold on the drivers’ championship.

But a series of statements first from the team and then the two drivers raised more questions than answers, after they declined to elaborate on what “suitable disciplinary measures” had been taken against Rosberg.

It is thought, however, that a fine and a reprimand were issued, given the options open to the team as well as the fact they confirmed no team orders in either driver’s favour would be given for the rest of the season.

Friday's meeting – which lasted for around half an hour and was described as “business-like” – had been called after Hamilton and Rosberg’s accident on lap two of last weekend’s race at Spa-Francorchamps. The resulting puncture ended Hamilton’s afternoon while Rosberg came second, extending his championship lead to 29 points.

Rosberg described it after the grand prix as a “racing incident” and declined to apologise, although he was condemned by the team. However, on Friday he accepted responsibility for the crash – which the stewards decided within 10 seconds not to investigate – apologising to both Hamilton and the team.

The 29-year-old said: “I have already expressed my regret about the incident but, after meeting with Toto [Wolff], Paddy [Lowe] and Lewis today, I wish to go a step further and describe it as an error of judgment on my part.

“The number one rule for us as team-mates is that we must not collide but that is exactly what happened. For that error of judgment, I apologise to Lewis and the team.”

Despite the animosity between the two, which has been building all season, Telegraph Sport understands they shook hands at a sponsor’s event in Stuttgart this week, contrary to reports that they had to be separated.

Although Rosberg took the blame for the Belgium crash, Hamilton admitted on Friday that he had made mistakes as the rivalry has developed over the year, perhaps a reference to revealing details of a heated team meeting after the race. Hamilton had alleged that Rosberg had admitted to causing the crash to “prove a point”.

“Today we came together as a team and discussed our differences,” Hamilton said. “Nico and I accept that we have both made mistakes and I feel it would be wrong to point fingers and say which one is worse than the other. There is a deep foundation that still exists for me and Nico to work from, in spite of our difficult times and differences.”

The ramifications of the affair are already being felt, with news this week that talks on a new contract for Hamilton have stalled until this year’s title fight is over. Mercedes face an uphill battle to control their drivers, with continuing questions over the leadership of the team ahead of next weekend’s race in Monza, Italy.

The good news for Formula One fans on Friday was that the pair will continue to be free to race. A team survey on Twitter this week found 92 per cent were in favour of eschewing team orders. That said, it is hard to see how Wolff and Lowe would go about controlling two drivers who have the championship in their sights and have already disobeyed their command this season.

In a statement, the team said: “Nico acknowledged his responsibility for the contact that occurred on lap two of the Belgian Grand Prix and apologised for this error of judgment. It has been made clear that another such incident will not be tolerated. They remain free to race for the world championship.”

Meanwhile, 38 former Caterham staff began employment tribunal proceedings against the team for their “unlawful axing”, with a High Court action in the pipeline. The row emerged after Tony Fernandes, the Malaysian businessman, sold the team to Swiss and Middle Eastern investors last month.